Lymph Node Involvement - questions

[lawteddy]

Does anyone know how pap carc would get into the lymph nodes if the only cancerous nodule on the thyroid was fully encapsulated?  Also, would RAI kill cancer in the lymph nodes or do they need to do neck dissection surgery to get it?  I have heard mixed things.  Any info would be appreciated.

[karin37]

I had a TT last month and they also took 5 lymph nodes for good measure. The path report showed that the pap carcinoma had spread into one of the lymph nodes. My doctor told me that because it had spread into the node, that there's a good chance it could return in the lymph nodes. He said that it is monitored by yearly blood tests. If it does resurface, then I just need to go through the whole surgery / LID / RAI process again. He said that I'm more likely to be killed by a meteorite than this cancer. :) So it may be a drag to go through everything again, I'm confident that everything will turn out okay.

[lawteddy]

Thankd for the response!  WHat type of surgery would they need to do if they already removed the whole thyroid?  Would it be a neck dissection?  

[karin37]

yep -as far as I understood it would be a dissection. It freaked me out at first, but I have an excellent endo who has 30+ years experience and the way he explained it, it's more of a bump in the road...not the end of the road. Best of luck to you!

[proudarmywife05]

Dissectionm, but the way it spreads I would do a TT if it was me

~Rachel
Partial 03/05
TT TOMORROW
RAI May

[ChitChatNine]

Let us know if/when you find an answer bcz that one makes me wonder, too ..... Could there be something not encapsulated in the other half of the thyroid on the move or would the half that contains a cancer-on-the-move only affect the lymph nodes on the same side as the gland ??????

My Doc said similar .. I had more chance of being in a car accident and dying than the PapThyCa I have ............................puts it into perspective but sometimes they are too non-chalant about the whole thing and need to be put back on track to keep their ears/eyes perked up!

C~

[KBo13]

In 2004 I had a TT to remove a 6cm tumor and RAI in April of that year.  Then a Radical Neck Disection in 2005.  My cancer was not encapsulated so I can't answer your question but it had moved to my lymph nodes.  They removed 32 of them.  One had a 3cm tumor and 2 were pre-cancerous.  It seems the RAI did not effect this tumor.  About 2 months after the 2nd surgery I had 42 External Radiation Treatments over a 6 week period, about 2 treatments a day.  The actual treatments were a breeze but about 2 weeks after I finished was a different story.  It was hard, I have never felt so sick.  Now that its almost a year later I have to say I have no regrets. I got through the sickness, like they say, time heals all wounds. I had a PET Scan a couple of weeks ago and it was all clear.

If you do decide to get the Neck Disection make sure you have a good surgeon, ask for reference.  There is a lot of stuff in your neck that can be messed up and change your life forever.  During my TT he paralyzed my left vocal chord. My voice is almost back to what it was before the surgery but I have to work harder to speak because only the right one works and I have swallowing issues now.  Did I mention that he also left a 3cm tumor in my neck?   So, make sure you do your homework.  Just because they have a M.D. after their name does not make them a good surgeon.

Best of Luck

[malawi]

Wow!!
Sorry you had to go through that but reaLglad to hear you are ok now.
Roman

[utahmomma]

Holy COW!  I'm glad you are okay and your PET scan is clear!!  Just curious, what type of thyroid cancer was it and what stage??

[KBo13]

Thanks for the sentiments. I am a truly a very lucky person. I had Papallary Carcinoma, as to the stage, I don't really remember what they told me, so much from the last two years is a fog.  I'll have to look that up.  

I really don't want to scare anyone with my story, I just want to inform.  At the very beginning they were very "unconcerned" about the nodules in my neck.  I am 48 years old and thyroid nodules are very common, especially in women my age.   Thyroid Cancer is so rare.  I think it's becoming more common but many Doctors are still not familar with it.  I had a consultation at a Cancer Center near where I live and they did not have the means to administer Radiated Iodine.  I would have had to go to another city in a different county to have it administered.  This was a "Cancer" Center and they had to farm out Thyroid Cancer Treatments, I said, see ya.  

The Endro who was treating me here realized that he was way out of his league with this cancer, he sent me to Shands Hospital in Gainsville, Florida. God Bless this man for understanding his own limitations.  They had just finished a 3 year study on a new way to administer the Iodine. I feel in my heart those people saved my life but even they didn't catch the 2nd tumor.  I had the leading Thyroid Cancer Specialist in the Southeast look me in the eye and say "It's not a tumor, it's a cyst". To be fair, all of my bloodwork supported what he was telling me.  This cancer seems to have mutated, it didn't behave like Thyroid Cancer, for one thing it stopped uptaking iodine.  It grew almost 1cm in less than a year.  Thryoid Cancer does not grow that fast, yeah right.   Deep inside I new it was cancer but I couln't say anything.  I had to stay "positive" and not think negative things and I didn't what to 'whine".  Well, I was positive it was cancer but I left it up to the "professionals" and they were wrong.

So, the moral of my story is, you have to be proactive in your treatment. My story isn't really that scary, they did get rid of the cancer, it just should not have taken 2+ years to do it.   You have to ask questions and keep asking until you get answers.

Listen  to that inner voice and act on what it is telling you and if possible, find a Doctor who has experience with Thryoid Cancer.  I can recommend a very good one.

[ChitChatNine]

You are really on top of your health .... sorry to hear you have gone thru so much .. you are a true survivor and inspiration to all of us .... keep posting!!!

Cheryl

[utahmomma]

I'm *so* glad that you are okay!!  You did what so many of us on here have done . . . followed that gut instinct.  I wish more people would listen to that.

[kim2pick]

My sister just found out that she has Papillary carc after they removed her enlarged and hardened thyroid and one lymph node...they said she is a very unusual case because it wasn't found in the thyroid itself but only in the lymph node...can this be possible?  Anyway, I read your story and am so sorry that you had to go through all of that and am so glad you were persistent and found a good doctor. I would greatly appreciate the name of the doctor that you recommend.